The line between crypto and conventional finance is blurring faster than ever. That includes digital currencies, with on-chain B2B payments network Paystand announcing its acquisition of Bitwage, a pioneer in stablecoin-powered cross-border payments.
The deal positions Paystand to bring enterprise-grade settlement and foreign exchange capabilities to its network of more than one million businesses worldwide. Together, the two companies aim to transform stablecoins — long seen as speculative assets — into reliable, regulated tools for global trade and treasury management.
“This is how on-chain dollars become working capital for global businesses,” said Jonathan Chester, Bitwage’s co-founder and CEO. “By joining Paystand, we bring that reach to enterprise AR/AP, FX and treasury at scale.”
From Crypto Curiosity to Corporate Currency
Stablecoins have quietly evolved from crypto niche to cornerstone of a new financial system. In 2025 alone, they facilitated nearly $9 trillion in transactions, an 87% increase from the prior year and more than half of Visa’s annual payment volume.
Driving this growth is a wave of global regulatory clarity. In the United States, the GENIUS Act has established a framework for federally regulated stablecoins. Europe’s MiCA legislation, along with new licensing regimes in Hong Kong and Singapore, has provided similar assurance in other key markets.
These developments have emboldened both startups and established players. Visa and Mastercard now settle transactions in USDC, while major financial institutions like BlackRock and Goldman Sachs are integrating tokenized assets into their platforms. Against that backdrop, Paystand’s acquisition of Bitwage represents the enterprise side of the story, using stablecoins to modernize receivables, payables, and treasury operations at scale.
“Stablecoins just crossed from crypto curiosity to regulated money movement,” said Jeremy Almond, Paystand’s CEO. “What’s been missing is an enterprise-scale network to apply them to real-economy use cases — supplier payments, trade, logistics, energy, and manufacturing.”
The Bigger Picture: A $100 Trillion Opportunity
Global B2B payments account for roughly $100 trillion annually. Yet, the infrastructure behind that flow of money remains slow, fragmented, and expensive. Traditional bank transfers across currencies can take days and incur multiple layers of fees.
By bringing Bitwage into its network, Paystand aims to change that. The integration connects Bitwage’s API-first payout engine, which supports USDC, USDT, BTC, ETH, and local currencies across nearly 200 countries, to Paystand’s established receivables and payables system.
The result is a 24/7 settlement network that can move liquidity between entities and regions in minutes while automating reconciliation directly on the blockchain. For global corporations, that means reduced costs, faster access to working capital, and greater transparency across supply chains.
Paystand says the combined platform is built with compliance and governance at its core. It is designed to align with U.S. and international regulatory standards, providing CFOs and treasury teams with clear operational controls for adopting digital assets safely.
An Industry-Wide Shift Toward Integration
Paystand’s acquisition comes amid a flurry of corporate activity signaling the mainstreaming of stablecoin infrastructure. Stripe recently acquired Bridge for $1.1 billion. Ripple spent $1 billion for GTreasury. BVNK is reportedly finalizing a $2.5 billion stablecoin infrastructure deal with Mastercard and Coinbase.
Each move underscores the same theme: digital currencies are being absorbed into the global financial system, not as speculative instruments but as programmable payment rails.
The strategic timing is critical. According to an Ernst & Young report, 87% of corporate respondents believe stablecoin adoption will give them a competitive edge. Most cite not just operational efficiency but improved access to global liquidity. With regulatory confidence now growing, enterprise interest is translating into real adoption.
“The combination of policy clarity, institutional adoption, and technical maturity makes this the moment for stablecoins to leap from fintech pilots to financial infrastructure,” Paystand said in its announcement.
How the Combined Platform Works
In practice, the integration will deliver a unified network for global payables and receivables:
- Global payables on stablecoin rails: Bitwage’s payout engine becomes part of Paystand’s automation platform, enabling near-instant cross-border settlement for suppliers and contractors.
- Always-on treasury and working capital: CFOs can move liquidity in minutes, optimizing cash positions around the clock.
- Enterprise governance: Built-in compliance aligns with GENIUS Act standards and emerging global frameworks.
- One network for both sides of the ledger: Paystand’s receivables and payables infrastructure now connects directly to mass payouts and FX, consolidating order-to-cash and procure-to-pay into one programmable environment.
In short, Paystand and Bitwage are building the first network that treats stablecoins not as parallel assets, but as core liquidity tools for modern business.
Beyond Crypto: The Infrastructure of Digital Commerce
Paystand’s acquisition strategy reflects a long-term vision to reimagine how money moves between enterprises. The company, founded in 2013, has already acquired Yaydoo and Teampay to expand its CFO-focused financial automation suite. With Bitwage, it completes the bridge from regional payments to global liquidity.
Bitwage, also founded in 2013, has been a first mover in using blockchain for payroll and contractor payments. Its reach, over 90,000 recipients across 4,500 businesses, demonstrates how stablecoins can make payments both faster and more inclusive.
Integration is already underway for select enterprise customers, with Paystand planning a broader rollout by region and currency. The company will also introduce fiat interoperability and risk-aligned treasury controls to help corporates adapt smoothly.
